Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-08-04
A GOOD DOG STORY.
Transacted from the French Of
Sacher Masoch.

The battle had lasted all day, and
night had set in. The sound of fire.
arms might still be heard In the dis
lance The wood was held by bat
TALON of French marines, who had re-
ceivcd orders to cover the retreat. The
whole village was on fire, from one end
to the other. The heavy tread of the
Prussian columns, as they filed through
the main street, resounded with dull
monotony on the icy snow. The
mounted officers were mufflcd in long
overcoats, and when the steeds snorted
the breath of the horses nostrils seemed
to freeze in the air. The quiet, gloomy,
starlit sky, toward which fog cloud
of smoke scared upwards in the dis
tance, appeared to rest on broad
basement of riven fame.
Outside the village extended the
large, open courtyard of a farm
which. although it stood alone, had al
SO become prey to the dcvouring ele-
nent. The conilagration had gained
the roof. cock-lOft and cattle-houses,
and formed steadily advancing sheet
of fire. A thousand lambert tongues
of flame shot beyond the charred
walls toward the orchard fruit trees
and the tall poplars along the road. A
corpse was stretched full length in
front of the courtyard door; but. be-
yond the Kissing and cracking of the
flames, every thing around was silent
and deserted.
Suddenly the mad howl of power
full watch dog broke thestillness of the
gloom. In vain did the poor beast
wrench on the chain that thrOttled him
and howl at his approaching fate The
Prusslan soldiery, who had left house
and home, wife and children, to fight
their hereditary foe. were deaf even to
the cries of mcf " which fell from tho
lips of Il human being. How. then.
could such men be expected to stop in
their victorious career to unbind the
leash Of so insignificant an object as a
wretched dog?
The battalion had already marched
10y. and only few stragglers remained
behind. One of them stopped, Shout
dered his rihe-strap. and peered into
the yard. He saw the dog and pitied
the poor brute. The man was \ Pole,
and had some heart. He remembered
the dear old mastiff which had left
home to follow HIM in the pressed
campaign and had died in ditch by
the roadside. He cautiously entered
the blazing courtyard and approached
the kennel. The watch dog came out
and took confidence ut the light blue
eyes and open countenance of the stall
wart deliveler. The Pole unstrapped the
leather collar and the poor animal was
free!
1t was large white dog. with woody
coat. long tail and pointed ears. 1t
started to follow the stranger; but, on
reaching the dead man at the farm
yard door. it drew near slowly. timidly
scented the lifcless body. and began to
whine. The faithful creature had rec
ognRed its master. and began licking
his brown and callOus hand. Vainly
the soldier beckoned. called aud
whistled; he had to drag the animal
away from the corpse. after passing
round its neck rope which had served
the purpose of . girslle to the dog 8
dead master.
The French had retired and the Prus-
sian battalion had pitched its camp on
the outskirts of the wood. Fires were
kindled, and he who had wine or BRAN
dy in his gourd gave some to the rest.
The comrades drew near to Flavian
Volnizki. as the landwehrmsu was
called; they looked at the dog and
made fun of the soft-hearted 81 Polak. "
He only frowned and held his peace.
The dog. who seemed to understand
that the jeering mood of the soldiers
might influence his new master to Gel